Greater New Orleans

This undated image provided by the Clay County, Minn., Jail shows Timothy Jay Vafeades. Federal charges have been filed against Vafeades, a Utah trucker accused of keeping sex slaves in his semitrailer for months at a time.
(AP Photo/Clay County Jail)

A tenant says an "unbearable" odor of gas permeated one of the buildings in East Harlem for weeks before the deadly blast.

3. REPUBLICANS CELEBRATE FLORIDA WIN

The victory by a congressional candidate who pledged to repeal "Obamacare" gives the GOP what it believes will be a potent issue all the way to Nov. 4.

4. WHY OBAMA BELIEVES CRIMEA REFERENDUM MAY NOT HAPPEN

He says last-ditch diplomatic efforts could lead to a "rethinking" of Sunday's Russian-backed vote.

5. FOR POPE, A BANNER FIRST YEAR

Francis has endeared himself to the public by looking out for the poor and shifting the church's focus to mercy rather than moralizing.

6. HONOR STUDENT WHO SUED PARENTS MOVES BACK INTO THEIR HOME

Rachel Canning's suit seeking child support and tuition has been settled "amicably," and the New Jersey family is now asking for privacy.

7. UTAH TRUCK DRIVER ACCUSED OF KEEPING SEX SLAVES

A Utah truck driver kept a 19-year-old and another woman as sex slaves in his semitrailer for months at a time while he traveled the country, filing down their teeth, forcing them to alter their appearance and beating them until they nearly passed out, authorities say. Timothy Jay Vafeades, 54, appeared in court Wednesday in Fargo, N.D., and will now be transferred to Utah for further proceedings. The charges against him include kidnapping, transportation for illegal sexual activity, and possession of child pornography, and could bring a life sentence if he is convicted.

8. HOW 'VERONICA MARS' BECAME A MOVIE

The canceled TV show gets new life on the big screen -- thanks to 91,585 Kickstarter backers and their $5.7 million.